Refining and improving an essay on 'Small Island'
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can create and use specific feedback to improve my essays.
Key learning points
- An essay should establish, develop and sustain an argument.
- Using a checklist can help to create specific feedback.
- Thesis statements and topic sentences should link and focus on writer's intentions.
- Quotations should be included and analysed considering a range of methods and audience reactions.
- Using specific sentence structures and phrases can help to rewrite essays.
Keywords
Establish - to set up, create or introduce
Sustain - in writing, this means to effectively develop and continue to build on ideas
Elevate - you are elevating something if you are making it higher, or in the case of writing making it better
Cohesive - in writing, the structure is cohesive if it is clear how the parts fit together. It has a clear introduction, middle and conclusion
Common misconception
Once an essay is completed it's not worth thinking about again.
How does rewriting support the writing of future responses? Consider the strategies, tips and phrases explored. Revisiting our own essays can make feedback become really personalised and allow you to work and focus on your own targets.
Teacher tip
Using your own knowledge of pupils, this lesson can be adapted to focus on personalised needs and specific areas of improvement
Equipment
You will need access to a copy of the play 'Small Island' written by Andrea Levy and adapted for the stage by Helen Edmundson
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.The reason or purpose for writing a text is know as the writer's...
Q2.A is the overarching argument for your essay.
Q3.What is a complex sentence?
Q4.What 'C' is being described here: the social, historical or cultural background to a text.
Q5.A main body paragraph should include...
Q6.What is the definition of the word 'elevate'?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the key terms to their definitions.
To set up, create or introduce.
Effectively develop and continue to build on ideas.
Improving something.
It is clear how the parts fit together.
Q2.Which of these is an example of a complex sentence with a fronted subordinate clause?
Q3.What might successful analysis include?
Q4.How can you sustain an argument in an essay?
Q5.Using a can help to create specific feedback.
Q6.An essay should establish, develop and an argument.
To help you plan your 9 English lesson on: Refining and improving an essay on 'Small Island', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 9 English lesson on: Refining and improving an essay on 'Small Island', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 English lessons from the 'Small Island' unit, dive into the full secondary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.